Tray for drinking glasses



y 3 K. VERBECK 1,960,606

TRAY IfOR DRINKING GLASSES Filed Jan. 51, 1953 Invam on WITNESS BY WW I 0 TTD" EYS Patented May 29, 1934 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl Vol-beck,

Manlius, N. Y.

Application January 31, 1933, Serial No. 654,448

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a tray for drinking glasses, such as tumblers, goblets or the like. It is well-known that in the use of drinking glasses of the class above referred to, the bev- 5 erage contained in the glass often runs 03161 or is spilled out of the glass, or in case the glasses contain iced beverages, it often occurs that drops of condensed vapor collect on the outside of the glass and flow to the bottom of the glass. In either case, this liquid eventually collects on the table, stand or other support, or on the tablecloth or other covering for said support, with the result that such support or cover is damaged or undesirably stained. Further, it often happens that when the glass is picked up, the liquid which has collected on the outer surface of the glass, clings to the lower edge of the glass and when the glass is tilted as when in drinking therefrom, the liquid thus clinging to the glass will flow to the lower side and drop from the glass upon the table or as sometimes occurs, upon the user's wearing apparel.

The main object of this invention is to provide means for collecting and absorbing the liquid which might otherwise collect on the outside of drinking glasses and thereby prevent such liquid from being carried by the glass and accidentally dropped at undesirable places.

Another object is to provide a tray adapted to removably support an absorbent pad composed of inexpensive material so that after being used, the pad may be destroyed and readily replaced with a new pad.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the form of the structure and the relation of the parts thereof, will more readily appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in section, of a tray embodying the various features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of a modified form of tray.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 44, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a still further modifled form of tray, with a portion of the absorbent pad broken away to disclose the underlying portion of the tray.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 5.

Each of the three different forms of trays -illustrated in the drawing consists of an imperforate base formed of non-absorbent material such as fiber, metal or the like, having marginal guide flanges at three sides of the base for removably supporting an absorbent pad over one face of the base while the other face of the 50 base is preferably covered with suitable material to form a non-frictional contact surface.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the base, as 1, is substantially rectangular in plan View and of sufficient size to support a drinking glass thereon, with three sides thereof extended outwardly and returned bent to form integral guide flanges 2 over one side of the base in slightly spaced relation thereto. These flanges are adapted to co-operate with the base for removably receiving and supporting therebetween the corresponding edges of a pad 3. This pad 3 is composed of an absorbent material such as blotting paper or the like, for absorbing moisture which may be spilled from a drinking glass or that may otherwise collect on the outer surface of the glass.

The flanges 2 are preferably of equal width, while the pad 3 is of less length than the base 1 so that when the pad is in position upon the base 1, a narrow strip of the forward edge of the base will appear as at 4, said strip having substantially the same width as the flanges 2 so that said exposed portion 4 of the base and the flanges 2 will form a substantially uniform marginal frame or border surrounding the pad.

To the bottom surface of the base 1 is preferably secured by cementing or other means, a covering 5 composed of a relatively soft yielding material such as felt or the like to prevent said base from scratching, marring or otherwise damaging the table or other support.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have illustrated a polygonal base '7 which, in this instance, is octagonal in plan View. The base 7 has two diametrically opposed side edges and one of the intermediate side edges thereof extended upwardly and inwardly to form guide flanges 8 over one side of the base '7. The absorbent pad, as 9, is also substantially octagonal in plan view and of less area than that of the base so that when the pad is positioned on the base, a narrow strip, as 10, of the marginal edge of the base intermediate the flanges 8 will appear which, together with the flanges, form a substantially uniform border about the pad 9.

A pair of diametrically opposed sides of the pad and an intermediate side, as 11, are extended outwardly a short distance relative to the remaining sides of the pad so as to extend beneath corresponding flanges 8 so that said flanges will maintain the pad in operative position on the base '7.

In Figures 5 and 6, the base, as 14, is shown circular in plan view and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed inwardly extending flanges and a similar inwardly extending flange 15' provided on the periphery of the base, said flange 15 being arranged substantially midway between the flanges 15. These flanges 15 and 15 are adapted to receive the marginal edge of the absorbent pad as 16 thereunder and maintain said pad in operative position on the base 14. The pad 16, in this instance, is substantially circular in plan view and of practically the same diameter as that of the base 14 so that when the pad is in position on said base, said pad will cover practically the entire upper surface of the base.

In each of the three different forms illustrated in the drawing, it will be noted that one side of the base is not provided with retaining flanges so that the respective pad may be readily inserted over the base beneath the respective retaining flanges so that the pad may be readily replaced with a new pad when desired.

Although I have shown and particularly described three forms of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, as obviously, different forms of a base may be provided or the retaining flanges may be differently positioned, or other changes be made, without departing from the spirit of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tray of the class described comprising a base formed with inwardly extending and spaced marginal guide flanges and an absorbent pad positioned over one surface of the base with marginal edges thereof extending beneath said guide flanges for removably securing said pad on the base, the pad being of less area than the base so as to expose a marginal portion of the base intermediate the guide flanges of substantially the same width as said flanges.

2. A tray of the class described comprising a base formed with inwardly extending marginal guide flanges on three sides thereof and an absorbent pad positioned over one surface of the base with marginal edges thereof extending beneath said guide flanges for removably securing the pad on the base, the pad being of less area than the base so as to expose a marginal portion of the base intermediate the guide flanges of substantially the same width as each of said flanges.

KARL VERBECK. 

